01 Lions of the Grail by Tim Hodkinson

Author:Tim Hodkinson [Hodkinson, Tim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Thrapston introduced as Eamonn Albanach, Seneschal of Connaught. He

looked desperately tired from his journey and the cup of wine that he

cradled in his weary hands looked like it would send him over to sleep.

Next to Albanach was the Senshal of Ulster, Thomas de Mandeville

and his wife Elizabeth. Sitting on the Seneschal’s left hand side was Congal

MacArtain. The MacArtain clan ruled the little kingdom of Iveagh, the

Earldom of Ulster's closest neighbour to the south and ally in the on-going

war with their common enemy: The Clan Eoghan of Tir Eoghan in the

West. The MacArtains had fought for the Earl in the Scottish wars too.

Congal was one of the younger sons of the MacArtain royalfamily.

“Did you buy that horse?” Savage asked.

“I did not,” MacArtain grinned. “I’d know better than buy one of De

Mandeville’s nags!”

“Don’t you listen to him, Savage. He’s just trying to get me to lower

the price,” the Seneschal laughed.

The Earl sat beside the Seneschal and he greeted Savage courteously,

apologising personally for there being no room for him at the high table.

Savage was then introduced to the Earl's wife, Margaret. Savage noted that

her eyes bore the same flashing glance as her husband's, which was not

surprising, considering that both their great, great grandfathers had been the

same man.

Next to Margaret sat Edmund le Bottelier, Justiciar of Ireland. “We’ll

have that talk later tonight, Savage,” he said. “I’ll send word to you after we

eat.”

Savage nodded, noting the Justiciar’s brusque tone and the worried

expression on his face.

Beside him sat the Constable of Carrickfergus, John D'Athy, still

dressed in his ridiculous red and yellow tunic. He gave Savage a rather

pompous Hallo.

“I’ll be wanting a word with you too, Savage,” D’Athy said. “I intend

to get whoever killed Talbot and I hear you know something about it.”

Beside D'Athy was Sir Hugh Bysset, the Lord of Twescard, the northeastern county of Ulster and his wife Emer. Savage noted there was no sign

of Hugh’s arrogant young nephew John and silently hoped that it was due to

injury from the tournament. Beside Bysset sat Hugo Montmorency, Irish

Marshal of the Knights Hospitaller. He was locked in deep conversation

with Bysset and barely glanced up to acknowledge Savage’s presence.

The final places at the top table were occupied by allies from outside

the Earldom. Muircetach and Thomas Ui Cahan were members of the

family which controlled the lands to the north-east of the Earldom of Ulster.

These two well-dressed noblemen were accompanied by their wives.

Deirdre, who was married to Muircetach was disarmingly pretty while

Thomas' wife Naimh had the oddest mouthful of teeth Savage had ever

seen. The Ui Cahans and the Byssets had connections going back years.

Brian MacCartan sat next to Niamh Ui Cahan and nearly at the end of the

table sat Alain and Beth FitzWarin. The FitzWarins were another of the

major families of the Earldom of Ulster, holding lands in Down and the

Ards peninsula.

All-in-all, the top table had a representative of the top rank of Society,

all except one very notable exception.

“I see the Archbishop is not here. In fact there don’t seem to be any

churchmen here except the local priest,” Savage pointed out.

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